Conveyer control device



June 4, 1940. M. RosENTl-IAL 2,203,508

CONVEYER CONTROL DEVICE FilSd Sept. 5, 1959 IN VENTOR.

155/5' ATTO EY.

Patented June 4, 1940 naar UNITED( STATES PATENT` `FFHCE CONVYER CONTROL DEvIoE Morris Rosenthal, Chicago, Ill. Application September` 5, 1939, Serial No. 293,425

13 Claims.

This invention has as its principal` object the provision of improvements in conveyer `control mechanism ofthe type described and claimed inmy copending iU. S. application, Serial No.

202,283, whereinthere is disclosed acontrol device especially suited for use With laundry ironers and which includes a magnetic marker deposited on `the conveying web and moved relative to a magnetic member Whichis attracted from a normal position to operate a `switch which stops the conveyer when the marker .passes `the control.

Viewed from another aspect, it is an important object of the invention to provide a control device for use with` conveyers and which can be operatedto stop the `conveyer only when a magn netic substance of predetermined areais carried by the conveyer relativetothe control device.

A further object is the provision of a control device ofthe class described which will not chatter or be falsely operated by magnetically attractable substances other thanthe intended conf trolmarker carried on `the conveyer.`

. A further object is the elimination of false operation and chattering `(thatlis, rapid and inn electual operations of the control) resulting from the passage of metal belt lacings on the conveyer web, or metal buttons or the like included in the material carried by the conveyer.`

Still another and specilic object is the provision of a control device in a conveyer arranged to stop the conveyer when almarker is moved thereby past the control, but which can be operated only if the marker is a` certain size. i

Another object is the provision` of bracket means for attaching the control to any conveyer. l; Other objects and advantagesof the invention reside in various detailsof construction as well as the arrangement and operation of the parts described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveof` the discharge end of the conveyer in an ironing machine, with the control device in operativeposition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through `the control housing showing the control mechanism in top plan view` as seen in the direction of `line 2-2 of Fig.` 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View to smaller scale of` themechanism seen in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section along line 4--4 Fis. 2':

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective to enlarged scale of one of the stanchions and mounting s means for the rocking bases; while Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram.

I dry articles are collected byattendants and usual- 1,0`

1y stacked on the table I2 preparatory to transfer into a suitable receptacle.`

In the operation` of these and similar machines, it is customary to `separate each batch of articles by a suitable marker I3 which indicates l to the attendants at the discharge end of the machine that the last articles of a given order or batch have preceded the marker and that another blatch is following.

In `ordertol` stop the machine automatically ZI) prior `to the feeding or delivery of a new batch, thereis provided an automatic control means including a magnetic switch operating member disposed close to the web on the underside thereof so as to^underlie a marker delivered to the discharge end, and the marker is provided with a magnetically attractable substance which causes the magneticmember in the control to operate and .open the power circuit forthe conveyer, thus automatically stopping the latter when the markm er appears, or approaches, the l discharge end of theironer or conveyer. Such a control mechanism is described in `my copending application, and a marker similar to `the marker I3 and including small squares of ironor strips of steel shim for coaction with the control, is described and claimed in my copending U. `sapplication, Serial No. 202,284. l

In order to provide a control which will have maximum sensitivity and which will nevertheless not respond to all of` themagn'etic substances transported by the conveyer but only to certain bolts i8.

Mounted on the base I6 (see also Fig. 2) are a plurality of control elementsv generally indicatedy at 2l and 22. Each control element includes an insulated rocker base 23 having a horseshoe magnet 24 secured on the upper side .thereof by meansof a threaded nipple 25 which passes from the underside of thel rocker base up through the 'bight portion of the magnet and threads into a complementary thimble 26.

The magnets are situated close to one .end of their respective rocker bases, and at the opposite end of each base is disposed.` va counterweight 21 in the form of a rectangle of non-magnetic metal, such as brass or white metal, secured to ther base by means of screws 28 and having itsv end nearest the magnet. arcuated as at 29 to pron vide opposite trunnion arms 36 through which is side of the base.

passed'a common shaft or spindle 3l which supports the several rocking bases for rocking motion.

The shaft 3l is supported by a plurality of v spaced posts' 32 seated in a channel strip 33, on the main base member I6 andk secured in Yposition by means ,of bolts 34 having` their head portions (Figs. 3 and 5.) clamped! between the oposite sides 35 of a channel strip on the under- The bolts 34 are applied before the sides 35 of the channel strip arey turned up, These sides preventing any loosening of the bolts due to the constant vibration to which the unit is subjected. y

,To complete the control device, circuit closing or switch meansfis provided for each of the several control elements and includes'the pro- Vision at one end of yeach rocking base 23 of a contact 4U seated for vertical sliding movement in a threaded bushing 4I in the base and urged yby spring means 42 into contacting engagement with a companion contact 43 fixed on the main base memberv I6; The eifortof the spring Q2 vis such asY to urge the contact into engagement with its companion contact while the rocker is rocking away from'its normal position to separateY the contacts, this being for the purpose of requiring the movable contact lill to be moved a certain distance `away from the companion contact before the' circuit is broken, `soI as to avoid false operation or chattering which would result from slight rocking movement of the rocking base caused by vibration in the machine or by action of the magnetic members when a magnetically attractablesubstance` other than the actual control marker is'pa'ssedy through the conveyer. Y

Each of the magnetic control elements or assemblies 2 I--22 is provided with adjusting means in the form of'a springr 45 which is urged. by a screwA into a recess in the underside. ofthe corresponding rocking base to tilt the latter into normal position and' counteract any effort of the springs 42 or` any unbalance between vthe counterweightf andthe magnet, andA thus' assure thatv the rocking" base 'will remain positively in` Y clamping the same onto the frame portion 53.

of the ironer or conveyer.

A-particular feature of the clamp is the provision of a hollow passage portion 54 interiorly thereof and communicating from the point of juncture with the conduit 5I to an opening 55 beneath the bight of the clamp. This latter opening is closed by a plate 56 in which terminates one end of a flexible conduit cable 51 through which the control conductors pass from the control unit to the master switch for the conveyer power circuit. As a result of this construction, the wiring from the'control unit is entirely concealed and protected and the connection between the unit andthe conduit 5l can easily be effected asV a result of the provision of a large hollow space within the clamp and the removable cover plate 56.

The circuit connections for the device are illustrated infFig. 6 in which there is shown a power circuit for the driving motor 66 of the conveyer, said circuit including a conductor 6| which extends from one terminal of the power line to one terminal of the motor, and a return conductor 62 whichextends from the opposite terminal of the power line to one contact 63 of aV master switch. Another contact 6A of the master switch isl connected by conductor 65 to the remaining terminal of the motor, and in order to energize the latter it is necessary to move a pair o f Aswitch blades 66 from normal open circuit position into engagement with the contacts 63 and 64 to bridge the latter.r

Operation of the master switch' is effected through the agency of a solenoid 61 having ra plunger operatively connected'with a lever E8 for rocking the switch blades 66 from normal to circuit closing position relative to the contacts v 63 and 64 when the solenoid is energized to attract the plunger. The solenoid is under control ofthe rmagnetic control means and has one of the terminals of its winding connected by a conductor 69 to one terminal of the secondary of a step-down transformer T, the opposite secondary terminal of which is connected by conductor 'lil toy one of the binding posts 1I of the magnetic-control unit, the circuit for the solenoid being completed by conductor 13 which extends from anotherbinding post 'l2 in .themagnetic control unit to the remaining terminal of the solenoid winding. The primary of the transformer isI bridgedy across the line connections for the motor.- i

The circuit connections in the magnetic control unit are such that if any one pair of contact or circuit breaking members 46-43 is' in closed ci-rcuit condition, the power circuit will be completed for thefsolenoid 61, thus pulling up the armature-'and rocking the switch blade 66 into .closed circuit engagement with contacts 63 and mon through the metallic mounting means for therocking bases, including the shaft 3|, the posts 32 and the `channel brackets 33 and 35,

connectionv of the contacts 4U to the frame or mounting means being eiected by the con ductors 'l5 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and eachleading from one of the contacts to one of the mounting screws 28 on the metal counterweight blocks engaging the shaft 3| The showing of the magnetic control unit in Fig. 6 is schematic, but it will be understood that the parts 32a, correspond to the mounting posts 32, and the part 35a corresponds to the channel strip 35, while the partsl 21a correspond to the metal counterweight plocks 2T.

In the operation of the device, referring to Figs. 1 and 6, the rockable magnetic `members are urged into normal position by the springs so that the circuit breaker contacts 40 and 43 are all in closed circuit condition, thus energlzing the solenoid 6l and` closing the master switch contacts 63-64-66 to connect power to themotor 6|] which drives the conveyer belt.

Assuming `the control unit to be disposed in the housing IE close to the underside of the conveyer as seen in Fig. 1, a traveling or mobile control member in the form of the marker pad I3 is placed on the conveyer at the loading or feeding end to be transported toward and over the control unit toward the discharge end as illustrated in Fig. l. The magnetically attractable substance in the marker pad I3 is arranged to extend over an area as great as or greater than that occupied by the several rocking `members 2|`22 in order that all of the latter may be tilted at the same `time instead of in succession, which would be the `case if the area of the magnetic substance in the control pad were less than that occupied by the rockable members or in the event that the depth of the area coveredby the magnetic substance were less than the distance between the opposite extremities of the area `occupied by the rockable members in the direction of movement of the conveyer.

In the illustration of Fig. l, the area occupied by the magnetic substance in the marker is indicated generally by the crosswise stitching lines |3a, and it will `be observed that this area is somewhat greater than that ofthe top surface of the housing I6 therebelow. But in any event it is to be understood that in order to stop the motor, both (or all, if there are more than two) of the rockable members 2| must be tilted at the same time, and in order to accomplish this the area covered by the magnetic substance in the mobile or traveling control element or pad I3, must at least cover the area which incloses or circumscribes the several rockable members 2|, as shown, or, in any event, must be at least coextensive with the area of the eiective eld of the magnetic members 24.

Assuming that the marker |3 has assumed the position shown in Fig.l 1, the magnetic members 24 on the rocking bases 23 will be attracted toward the pad |3 and cause the circuit breaker contacts 40 and 43to separate, thus breaking the circuit through thesolenoid 61 and allowing the switch blades 66 to drop `back and open the cir.- cuit through the motor, whereupon the conveyer will stop. The attendant then removes the marker I3 when he is ready for the next lot, and as soon as the pad is removed the conveyer starts. The pads are returned to the feeding end oi the machine by any convenient means.

The field of force of magnetic members such as the horseshoe magnets 24, will obviously permeate a certain area on the conveyer and it is to be understood that the term effective magnetic area and similar expressions used in the claims is intended to mean the area that must necessarily be occupied by the magnetic substance in the traveling control `pad to cause all of the horseshoe magnets to be attracted at the same time or as a group.

The various advantages and objects of the invention may be accomplished by modifications of the particular embodiment specifically described herein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include all equivalent arrangements fairly coming within their call.

Having thus described my invention, `what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Control mechanism for use with a conveyer including a driving motor, said mechanism comprising a plurality of circuit breakers connected in a control circuit for said motor and arranged in norm-ally closed circuit condition to effect operationl of said motor, the connections in said control circuit being such that the same can be opened to stop said motor only when all of the circuit breakers are moved into open circuit conl to each other and in close proximity to said conveyer to be moved outof said normal position as a result of magnetic forces between the same and traveling control means carried on the conveyer, and a traveling magnetic control member including a magnetic substance arranged to extend over an area relative tol the spacing of said rst-mentioned magnetic control members to effect movement of all of the latter out of normal position so that all of said circuit breakers will be operated as a group.

2. Control mechanism for use with a conveyer including a driving motor, said mechanism comprising va pair of magnetic members and means mounting the same for movement independently into and out of normal position, means for mounting said movable magnetic members in close proximity to said conveyer for magnetic cooperation with traveling magnetic control means carried by the latter, means yieldingly urgingsaid movable magnetic members into a normal position, a circuit breaker coacting with each of said movable magnetic members and arranged to be disposed in close circuit condition when the` corresponding movable magnetic member is disposed `in normal position, and a control circuit for said motor and connected with said circuit breakers to effect operation of said motor when any one of the circuit breakers is in normally closed circuit condition as aforesaid, it being necessary to move all circuit breakers into open circuit condition to stop said motor, and a traveling magnetic control member adapted to be carried by said concluding a magnetic substance arranged to effect movement of both of said movable magnetic members when the traveling control member isy moved into position opposite the same, whereby all of said circuit breakers will be Vdisposed in open circuit condition at the same time to stop said motor.

3. In a control device for use with power-driven conveyers and adapted to be actuated by magnetic means carried by the conveyer, control mechanism comprising a plurality of circuit breakers connected in a power control circuit with a driving motor for operating said conveyer and so arranged that all of thek same must be operated at the same time to stop said motor, and a plurality of movably mounted magnetic members and each arranged for movement from normal position to operate one of said circuit breakers, means for mounting said movable magnetic members in close proximity to said conveyer for movement out of normal .position as a result oi magnetic attraction between the same and a traveling. magnetic control member carried on the conveyer, said movable magnetic members being spaced relative to eachother so that the eld of force of each of the same lies within a certain area on said conveyer corresponding to the effective magnetic area in said travelingcontrol member, whereby false operation'oi the control mechanism may beprevented as the result of movement of magnetically attraotable suby stances of lesser eiective area than that in the `bers when all koi" the same are traveling control member.

4. Control mechanism ior use with a conveyer adapted to transport a traveling magnetic-control member which includes a magnetic substance of certain effective area, said mechanism comprising av plurality of magnetic members mounted for rocking movement into and out of normal position and arranged in spaced relation relative to each other for rocking movement out of normal position as a result of magnetic forces of attraction between the same and said magnetic substance in the traveling control member when the latter is disposed in a predetermined position of alignment opposite said rockable magnetic members, means yieldingly urging each of said rockable magnetic members into normal position, and circuit control means adapted for connection in a power control circuit for said conveyer and operably controlled by said rockable magnetic memdisposed out of normal position to effect opening of said power circuit and stop the conveyer.

5. In a control device of the class described, a roclable mounting member and means mounting the same for rocking movement, a magnetic member mounted at one side of the rocking axis of said f mounting member, coimterbalancing means attached to said mounting member on the opposite side of said rocking airis` from the magnetic member, contact means including a contact plunger mounted on said mounting member at one side of said rocking axis for reciprocable movement normal to the plane of the mounting member, spring means urging said contact plunger in a direction away from said mounting member for engagement with complementary contact means, complementary contact means mounted for engagement by the contact plunger as aforesaid, and adjustable means arranged on the side of said rocking axis opposite said contact plunger yieldingly rocking said mounting member in a direction toward said complementary contact means. Y f t 6. Control mechanism for use with a conveyer and comprising a plurality of circuit control devices connected in a circuit foroperation jointly to` stop driving means for the conveyer, aplural-y ity of magnets arranged for movement severally to operate one of said control devices, and means mounting said magnets in a predetermined spatial relationship close to said conveyer for cooperation with travelling control means transported thereon and having paramagnetic means arranged in a spatial disposition to coact magnetically with all of said magnets to effect movement of the latter when the travelling control means is moved by the yconveyor into a certain position relative thereto wherebyV to operate said circuit controlling devices jointly.

7. Motor control mechanism for a conveyer and including: a plurality of rockably mounted control magnets arranged close to the conveyer for cooperation with a travelling control member thereon, motor control means actuated by movement of said magnets, said magnets being spaced apart in a predetermined manner in the direction of movement of the conveyer, and paramagnetio means carried b y said travelling member and arranged spatially with respect tothe direction oi' movement of the travelling member by the conveyer to coact magnetically with all of said magnets and effect movement of all of the same at a given time when the Ytravelling member is moved into a 'certain position relative to the magnets, and circuit control means connected to control the operation yor the conveyer motor and operated by ccaction of said magnets as aforesaid.

8. In combination, a conveyer and a driving motor therefor, and control mechanism for starting and stopping the conveyer and adapted for actuation by travelling control means carried along by the conveyer, said control mechanism comprising multiple switchy contacts connected in a power control circuit for said motor and arranged for individual movement into and out of circuit closing condition in effecting circuit connections to Vstart and stop said motor, and contact operating members mounted for movement individuallyy to eiect movement of said switch contacts for operation to start or stop the motor as aforesaid, means yieldingly urging said contact operating members intov a vnormalposition with said switch contacts all disposed to effect circuit connections to energize said motor, and a travelling control member including control means arranged therein in a certain spatialrelationship :for ccaction with all of said contact operating members at one time when the travelling member is carried by the conveyer into a certain position opposite said contact operating members.

9. In a magnetic control device of the type used to start and stop a conveyer by means o a travelling control member carried by the conveyer and which includes a magnetically attractable substance adapted to affect a magnet iixed close to the conveyer and cause the same to move and operate circuit control means for the conveyer motor, I claim the arrangement ory a plurality of magnets fixed close to the conveyer for movement to operate circuit control means to stop said cont veyer motor when all of the magnets are moved out of a normal position at one time, said magnets being spaced relative to each other in a plane parallel to the path of movement of said travelling control member on the conveyer, and said travelling control member having the magnetically attractable substance thereon arranged in a spatial relationship with respect to a plane approximately parallel with the first-mentioned plane, to aiect all of said magnets at one time and move the same for the purpose set forth, when the travelling member isconveyed into a certain position opposite said magnets, and means for yieldably urging said magnets into normal position.

10. In a control for a conveyer motor, a" plurality of severally movable contact-operating members and contact means actuated byeach of the same and connected for operation as a group to control a power circuit for said motor, each of said contact-operating members being arranged to be operated by a magnetic control element operatively associated therewith, and said magnetic control elements being arranged to dispose their magnetic properties in a certain spatial relationship with respect to said conveyer for cooperation with traveling magnetic control means having magnetic properties similarly arranged, the arrangement being such that operation of all of said contact operating members as a group cannot be effected by magnetic substances on the conveyer unless the magnetic properties thereof are disposed in the certain spatial relationship aforesaid.

11. In a conveyer control device, multiple contact means adapted for connection to operate a control circuit for a conveyer motor, circuit connections between said contact means so arranged that all of the latter must bemoved as a group from a normal condition to actuatesaid control circuit, magnetic members each mounted for movement independently to move one of said contact means from normal condition, and means mounting said magnetic members in a certain spaced relation relative to said conveyer for oper-` ation by magnet control means on said conveyer having magnetic properties arranged with respect to spatial disposition to coact operatively with all of said magnetic members when moved by the conveyer relative to said control device.

l2. An attaching clamp for mounting electrical control mechanism to a support and comprising a Ueshaped member having at least one arm thereof hollowed and communicating into an opening opposite the bight portion of the clamp, said hollow arm of the clamp having an opening providing entrance for a conductor into the hollowed portion thereof, a cover plate for said opening opposite the bight in the clamp and having a passage therethrough for said conductor, and means on said clamp for securing the saine in engagement with a supporting member.

13. In a control device of the class described, a housing in which control mechanism is disposed, a hollow supporting arm extending from said housing and a U-shapecl` clamp having a hollowed arm portion in which the end of said supporting arm opposite the housing is secured, said clamp having an opening communicating into said hollowed arm portion thereof, a cover plate for said last-mentioned opening, said cover plate having a passage arranged to receive an end of a conduit for passage of conductors from the conduit through the hollowed arm portion ofthe clamp and into said supporting arm of the housing for connection with said control mechanism, and means on the arm of said clamp opposite the hollowed arm portion thereof for attaching the clamp to a support. y

' MORRIS ROSENTHAL. 

